Workshop 12: The Call for Responsible Leadership

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Heeding the Call, Jr. High Ages 12-15: Qualities Of A Justice Maker

In This Section

Introduction
From Heeding the Call

When you take on some leadership responsibility in the world, you must accept the fact that you will change lives. You will change the status quo by representing justice or compassion or love. And changes spread from you will be easier to happen again in others because of you. — Doris “Granny D”…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Heeding the Call

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Juggling Our Strengths 15 Activity 2: Story — It’s Up to Us 15 Activity 3: Presente Litany 20 Faith in Action: The Long Haul Faith in Action: Allies, Phase 8 Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: UUs in New Orleans 15 Alternate Activity 2: Youth Leadership 15…
Spiritual Preparation
From Heeding the Call

As you prepare for the end of the program, you may have a wide range of thoughts and feelings. Can you create a simple ritual to mark this passage for yourself as a religious educator? One idea is to sit by a body of water and gently toss flower petals into the water while naming what you are…
Opening
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Write the chalice lighting words on newsprint and post. Description of Activity Gather youth in a circle. Welcome first-time participants.
Activity 1: Juggling Our Strengths
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A basket One small beanbag stuffed animal for every youth Newsprint, markers and tape Description of Activity Youth explore the complexities of juggling numerous responsibilities. Ask for a volunteer scribe….
Activity 2: Story - It's Up to Us
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Copy of the story “It’s Up to Us” Preparation for Activity Read the story until you are comfortable presenting it. Optional: Make copies of the story for youth to share and read along. Description of Activity Youth hear a story that explores the…
Activity 3: Presente Litany
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Music player and audio of calming music Leader Resource 1, Presente Litany Opening Leader Resource 2, Names for Presente Litany Nametags with first and last names for participants and leaders…
Closing
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Taking It Home for all participants Description of Activity Distribute Taking It Home. Invite youth to stand in a circle. Thank first-time guests for their contributions to the group. End the workshop with these words: Together we have…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Heeding the Call

This is an opportunity to reflect not only on this workshop, but also on the program as a whole. How have you grown and changed as a leader and a religious educator by being involved in this learning community? Has your connection to Unitarian Universalism been strengthened?…
Faith In Action: The Long Haul
From Heeding the Call

Description of Activity Has your congregation participated in the restoration efforts in the Gulf Coast region? Research Unitarian Universalist congregations who have done so….
Faith In Action 2: Allies, Phase 8
From Heeding the Call

Materials for Activity Handout 1, Oppression Continuum, or projected Justicemakers Guide, from Workshop 5 The returned handouts from the last workshop Pens or pencils Optional: Computer and large monitor or projector and screen Preparation for Activity If you are using the Justicemakers Guide…
Alternate Activity 1: UUs in New Orleans
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity “Refl… on New Orleans” video by the Winchester Unitarian Society Preparation for Activity Watch a 10 minute video produced by the Winchester Unitarian Society on YouTube called “Reflections on New Orleans.” Description of Activity Youth watch a…
Alternate Activity 2: Youth Leadership
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity One three-foot sheet of paper for every small group Handout 1, A Youth Leader Is… Markers Masking tape or thumbtacks Description of Activity Youth explore what it means to be a youth leader. Divide participants into small groups and distribute…
Taking It Home: The Call for Responsible Leadership
From Heeding the Call

When you take on some leadership responsibility in the world, you must accept the fact that you will change lives. You will change the status quo by representing justice or compassion or love. And changes spread from you will be easier to happen again in others because of you. — Doris “Granny D”…
It's Up to Us
From Heeding the Call

Adapted from “The Real Heroes and Sheroes of New Orleans” by Lorrie Beth Slonsky and Larry Bradshaw. Original story appeared in the Socialist Worker. The sixth strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded, Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region in August, 2005….
Handout 1: A Youth Leader Is...
From Heeding the Call

This list was created by the youth and adult trainers at the Unitarian Universalist Youth Leadership Development Conference Training in 2004. One who recognizes personal limitations and asks for help when needed. The “entertainer,” the “informer,” the “quiet commander,” the person who pushes the…
Leader Resource 1: Presente Litany Opening
From Heeding the Call

Feelings of uncertainty and hopelessness are understandable in a world with so much injustice. Yet the root causes of injustice did not come into being automatically. They were created by people, and they can be transformed by people, too. That’s where you come in….
Leader Resource 2: Names for Presente Litany
From Heeding the Call

Cut apart each name on individual slips of paper. Distribute before the Presente Litany. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Raziq Brown Hunter Jackson and the volunteers with No More Deaths Juliette Hampton Morgan Father Bruno Hussar and the residents of Neve Shalom Ranin Boulos Noam Shuster Juan Elias…
Find Out More
From Heeding the Call

Leadership There are many books on developing youth leadership. One of them is Youth Leadership: A Guide to Understanding Leadership Development in Adolescents by Josephine A. van Linden and Carl I. Fertman (New York: Jossey Bass Publishing, 1998) Read more about…

Download all of Heeding the Call (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

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Workshop 12: The Call for Responsible Leadership

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